After suffering a pair of setbacks on the road in California last weekend, the Auburn soccer team (2-2-0) returns to the Auburn Soccer Complex for the first of five consecutive home matches Friday at 7pm when it plays host to in-state rival Samford (0-2-0). Auburn continues the home weekend on Sunday against William & Mary (1-2-0) at noon.

"Samford will defend very well and we got a taste of that last weekend," Auburn Head Coach Karen Hoppa said. "This is a rivalry game because we have so many Birmingham players and players that played with Samford players. It should be an exciting game on Friday night."

Auburn comes in enduring a scoring drought, having scored just one goal in its last two matches while allowing three. Going into Friday, all six of Auburn's goals have come from three players as Alexa Allen, Tori Ball and Mary Coffed each have three.

Both of this weekend's opponents played in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, extending Auburn's streak to four straight matches against tournament teams from a year ago, a stretch that will be replicated in SEC play in September.